Best Supporting Actors of 2015; My Picks

Alright, so in the lead-up to the Oscars, I’ll be posting my very own Bear Awards periodically. We’ve done Best Actor and Best Actress, now it’s time for the supporting roles. Excited? Let’s see how I chose 🙂

Best Supporting Actor is a category that’s probably the most varied of all. Given the overwhelming number of stellar performances, it’s hard to really come to a definitive number of worthy nominees. Everyone seems worthy. So these must be the ones which really impressed me and rose above their peers. There’s only five of them this time though, compared to the six from Best Actor and Best Actress. These are the special 5.

Nominees for the Bear Award:

Benicio Del Toro (Sicario)

In Sicario, Benicio Del Toro gave the look of death. I’m not spoiling it but let me just put it this way; The way he stared at the screen was a man who was the very personification of death itself. He can be at once, as deathly as he is comforting, a pillar of strength as well as a vanquisher with a vengeance. I can only say his performance gave me the chills right down to my bones.

Idris Elba (Beasts Of No Nation)

Idris Elba plays Commandant with such charisma and warped charm. He channels the Mandela-esque spirit and diction that makes his character a play on our sympathy and fears. Most of all, he injects so much life and personality into his character that his character’s justifications make for an uncomfortable internal dilemma in us viewers. But what you feel about Commandant doesn’t really matter. The fervour, especially in the scene where he riles up his army of young boys, is an everpresent feature of Idris Elba’s performance that leaves a stirring, spellbinding and sickening effect.

Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina)

Oscar Isaac hasn’t been feautured in many top 5 supporting lists. Which is a damn shame. His geeky-burly, neurotic and quirky performance as Nathan in an equally peculiar film creates the tension and suspense equal to that created by his co-star Alicia Vikander. His character represented the insatiable thirst we have to explore and create. It is a huge satire. And Oscar Isaac was the perfect guy to pull it off. He not portrayed the mad man in search to bring about ‘the inevitable’ at all costs but also included his own idiosyncratic habits and routines. If there’s one thing that makes him stand out, it’s that he was implanted a totally unique and contrasting feature to a character so focused and rigid in his beliefs. Surprsingly, he pulled it off. The result? He’s lackadaisical attitude and moral ambivalence makes his colourful and unsettling vibe all the more unique. And come on, that dance! You gotta love Oscar Isaac! (Don’t watch if you don’t want to be spoiled.)

Nathan: “Imma tear up the fuckin dance floor dude check it out”

Steve Carell ( The Big Short)

Steve Carell, alone (Yes, alone), lifted the film beyond it’s eccentric but not so effective Wall Street hum-drum. The movie did try to be entertaining. It tried to make its characters somehow crusaders, moral and aware. The Ryan Gosling “last-save” at the end saying he felt like he wasn’t a hero was a weak attempt to make him less complicit. The parts where Brad Pitt reprimanded his partners not to celebrate when millions of families would have lost their homes didn’t do much. So maybe the film wasn’t trying to portray them as moral after all. And the only character that actually embodied this idea, the idea of dilemma, of self-guilt, of an awareness that what he’s doing isn’t right, of the idea that what he’s doing neither helps nor hinders banks but simply exploits them, was Steve Carell. He’s constantly being haunted by his personal issues and doesn’t make a big deal trying to polish his image because he knows that what he and the other characters were doing (shorting the market) isn’t moral; It’s the tale of the opportunists. He’s extremely offbeat with his humour too which made his presence on-screen extremely interesting, funny and poignant. His perplexing look and seeded anger always makes his character the most memorable one.

Sylvester Stallone is incredible. To be able to come back off a successful franchise and revive it with such motivation, spirit and gusto is one that is inspiring and heartwarming. Fans of Rocky will certainly rave with nostalgia. But lets not ride off the franchise’s brand. We should judge Stallone based on the film. He was so nuanced. Acting as a coach to his former rival’s son, he pulls it off with such realism and personality. Coming out from a hiatus, he steps up the gears for his student with an intensity that’s hidden beneath his fedora and oversized dark sweaters. Oh no, he’s far from being a shadow of his self. He gave so much kindness and passion and humility to his character that indeed, he shines even greater when training his young protege.

Nominees once more:

Benicio Del Toro (Sicario)

Idris Elba (Beasts Of No Nation)

Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina)

Steve Carell (The Big Short)

Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

Winner of the Bear Award: Idris Elba

Steve Carell is a very close first. Oh man, his performance was so good. But Idris just beats him by a tiny bit. His performance was so wild and yet controlled, maniacal and yet charismatic. There isn’t much else to say other that his acting was near perfect. He so deserved that SAG award. Plus he got another one for Best Actor in a miniseries tv!!

Little Bear was so excited that his idol Idris Elba won that he gave him a long fan letter (similar to true gangster likeness to Marsellus Wallace (Pulp Fiction)). My nominees are all coincidentally so badass in their own ways; A badass role befits an equally badass sense of humour 😉 Cheeky lil bear

Thanks Keith! Hey gimme a follow back on twit 🙂 Hardy was good, but I felt these 5 were really awesome. Somehow I didn’t get the feels from Mark Rylance performance as well, I thought a few other actors could have easily played his role and he was a little underwhelming. What’s your thoughts? Idris rocks!

Although, I gave some choices on who should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in my Part 1 post of The Academy Awards, Part 2 is really when I will go into deep detail about who I feel was neglected. Either way though, I really love your post 🙂 I have not seen Beasts of No Nation and I was no fan of The Big Short or Ex Machina, but I loved your choices of Benicio Del Toro in Sicario and Sylvester Stallone in Creed 🙂 I do feel that Idris Elba is a very talented actor and regardless as to whether or not I will like or love Beasts of No Nation, their is no way he would be capable of giving a bad performance because Elba can make a phone book riveting 🙂 Keep up the great work as always and I love that white teddy bear image or as you name him “Little Bear” who happened to be so excited that Elba won what you call The Bear Award 🙂 Once again, keep up the great work as always 🙂

Hey John!! Sorry for the late reply 😦 I really look forward to part two (When’s it coming?!) haha. I can’t wait to hear which performances really impresed you! HAHA I agree, Idris Elba is indeed extremely talented, I wonder why he’s been overlooked quite a number of times. I’m glad he snagged the double at SAG’s though 😉 Thank you John for the kind words, it keeps me motivated! Haha, I figured the bear would be a fun narrative to the Bear Awards hehe 🙂

Ohh sorry this is so late 😦 Hahahaha saame !! Yup you’re right, the Oscars love period pieces and shower the Weinstein Co. with at least an award a year. Innovative and transcendent films that go against the grain of a specified genre get snubbed. Safe movies get nominated. Urgh it’s quite frustrating at times. Hehe, thanks for the vote of confidence! I’ll definitely be continuing the bear awards, glad you like em’!
If I could recommend, and I just read your post about disliking oscar type films. I’ll recommend four films I think you might find refreshing and you’ll be glad to know they’re not nominated…Anomalisa, Beasts Of No Nation, Ex Machina and Tangerine. Especially tangerine, I think its your type. It’s crazy fun but also a serious look at transgender discrimination